When should I change the oil (time, not miles)?

FlyingGary · Post by **FlyingGary** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:56 am

Hey, everyone. I don't get to ride the Buddy as often as I'd like (just under 600 miles in about 2 years) so I was wondering when I should change the oil, seeing as though it'll be years between the recommended mileage intervals. What are your thoughts? Every year, every other year, just go with the mileage interval no matter how long it takes, ...?

Thanks in advance,
Gary

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:09 am

Manual says every 3-4 months or every 2000 miles.

GaryEPSP · Post by **GaryEPSP** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:16 am

JMHO, you need the first maintenance at 300 miles, then you should do it every thousand after that.

In your case, I would change oil at the end of each ridiing season. No matter how few or many miles you ratchet up.

I tend to err on the side of caution.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:56 am

GaryEPSP wrote:JMHO, you need the first maintenance at 300 miles, then you should do it every thousand after that.

In your case, I would change oil at the end of each ridiing season. No matter how few or many miles you ratchet up.

I tend to err on the side of caution.

every 1000? I found a post here with an email from Genuine saying 1000-1500 if it's dino oil and 1500-2000 if it's synthetic. I think eric had it posted in another oil change thread

GaryEPSP · Post by **GaryEPSP** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:28 am

jmazza wrote:
GaryEPSP wrote:JMHO, you need the first maintenance at 300 miles, then you should do it every thousand after that.

In your case, I would change oil at the end of each ridiing season. No matter how few or many miles you ratchet up.

I tend to err on the side of caution.
every 1000? I found a post here with an email from Genuine saying 1000-1500 if it's dino oil and 1500-2000 if it's synthetic. I think eric had it posted in another oil change thread

Ohhh, you forgot the anal factor.

There are those that exceed manufacturers suggestions and those the barely meet them. I err on exceeding the guideline.

Fact is, most people won't put on 1K miles during the summer. A few will put on 2K, 10% will put on 3K. There is the maverick rider out there that puts on more that 5K a year but they are rare.

No matter how much or little you ride, I think you should change oil at least once per year. JMHO, and I'm not running for office.

GaryEPSP · Post by **GaryEPSP** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:36 am

AND, an oil change costs about twenty bucks or less if you do it yourself. Pretty cheap. I'ts an easy skill to change oil. Once you do it you'll wonder why you ever paid someone 85.00 per hour to do it for you.

toddrw2251 · Post by **toddrw2251** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:12 pm

My dealer told me every 1000 was overkill. The manual is very inconsistent on oil changes and it's recomendation differ on at least two occasions.

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:13 pm

I just follow my dealer and manual, first 200 miles, then every 2000/3monhs after that.

But I guess it doesnt hurt the engine to change the oil at 1000-1500, never hurts to have fresh oil!

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:54 pm

FlyingGary wrote:Hey, everyone... so I was wondering when I should change the oil...

Pay no attention to the manual.

I recommend you always change your oil at noon.

KRUSTYburger · Post by **KRUSTYburger** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:58 pm

I say change it at 250, then 500, then whenever it turns brown.

FlyingGary · Post by **FlyingGary** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:00 pm

Before I do something stupid, can someone confirm the gear and motor oils are the same.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:08 pm

lobsterman wrote:
FlyingGary wrote:Hey, everyone... so I was wondering when I should change the oil...
Pay no attention to the manual.

I recommend you always change your oil at noon.

HAHA!! Nice one. And here I was doing it at midnight!!

One of the things about the Buddy- and maybe this is true about all scooters- is the fact that there is so much inconsistent information from the manual (which contradicts itself), to the stickers on the scooter (gas and tire pressure), to emails posted here from Genuine that have changed as far as service requirements, to what all of our dealers (many of whom have been in the scooter biz even longer than Genuine) tell us.

For example, my dealer wanted me to wait until close to 1000 miles for my first service and reluctantly did it at just under 500 only because I told them Genuine said to. They said that in their long experience, the seating and break-in that they check at that first service doesn't fully happen until closer to 1000. They have different recommendations for gas and oil changes too.

But that change the oil at noon thing- that there is gold.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:42 pm

FlyingGary wrote:Before I do something stupid, can someone confirm the gear and motor oils are the same.

No they aren't...

See the step by step oil change instructions in the tech library section Dow below here for more info.

sc00ter · Post by **sc00ter** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:12 am

Just for reference, and I'll probally void my warranty if the wrong people see this, but here goes. I did my first change at 300 miles, second change at 3000ish, and now Im at 10,133 and I still have not done it. Run 10-30 Mobile Full Synthetic. Had to top it up last week, but it runs fine. The scoot is now 1 year old (bought it for my Birthday last April)-keep you posted when/if something breaks.

Modern Buddy

When should I change the oil (time, not miles)?

When should I change the oil (time, not miles)?

Re: When should I change the oil (time, not miles)?

Re: When should I change the oil (time, not miles)?